121 research outputs found
The relationship between the insulin-like growth factor-1 axis, weight loss, an inflammation-based score and survival in patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer
<b>Background & aims:</b>
The involvement of a systemic inflammatory response, as evidenced by the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), is associated with weight loss and poor outcome in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. There is good evidence that nutritional and functional decline in patients with advanced malignant disease is associated with catabolic changes in metabolism. However, defects in anabolism may also contribute towards nutritional decline in patients with cancer. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between IGF-1 and IGFBP-3, performance status, mGPS and survival in patients with inoperable NSCLC.
<b>Methods:</b>
56 patients with inoperable NSCLC were studied. The plasma concentrations of IGF-1, IGFBP-3 and leptin were measured using ELISA and RIA.
<b>Results:</b>
The patients were predominantly male (61%), over 60 years old (80%), with advanced (stage III or IV) disease (98%), with a BMIâ„20 (84%), an ECOG-ps of 0 or 1 (79%), a haemoglobin (59%) and white cell count (79%) in the reference range. On follow-up 43 patients died of their cancer. On univariate analysis, BMI (p<0.05), Stage (p<0.05), ECOG-ps (p<0.05), haemoglobin (p<0.05), white cell count (p<0.05) and mGPS (p<0.05) were associated with cancer specific survival. There was no association between age, sex, treatment, IGF-1, IGFBP-3, IGF-1:IGFBP-3 ratio, or leptin and cancer specific survival. With an increasing mGPS concentrations of haemoglobin (p<0.005) and IGFBP-3 (p<0.05) decreased. mGPS was not associated with either IGF-1(p>0.20), or leptin (p>0.20).
<b>Conclusions:</b>
In summary, the results of this study suggest that anabolism (IGF-1 axis) does not play a significant role in the relationship between nutritional and functional decline, systemic inflammation and poor survival in patients with inoperable NSCLC
Non-offending Mothers of Sexually Abused Children: How They Decide Whom to Believe
Professionals continue to study and refine their understanding of the complex dynamics of child sexual abuse and the role of the non-offending mothers. Of particular clinical and research interest is the response of the mother once she learns that her child disclosed being sexually abused and named the mother\u27s intimate partner as the perpetrator. This qualitative study (n=20) uses in-depth interviews and constructivist grounded theory methods. The focus is how women decide about believing their children\u27s disclosures of sexual abuse, both in terms of what happened to the children and who perpetrated the abuse. The study addresses various factors that 1) contribute to a mother\u27s belief, b) create barriers to her ability or willingness to believe, and c) contribute to any uncertainty or fluctuation in her belief. Findings highlight that in the context of unresolved trauma histories themselves, the women are unable to accurately discern risks in intimate relationships which then impose risks for their children. Their beliefs in their children\u27s disclosures are inextricably associated with acceptance of the need to sever their relationships with the accused
Photometry of the Type Ia Supernovae 1999cc, 1999cl, and 2000cf
We present previously unpublished BVRI photometry of the Type Ia supernovae
1999cc and 2000cf along with revised photometry of SN 1999cl. We confirm that
SN 1999cl is reddened by highly non-standard dust, with R_V = 1.55 +/- 0.08.
Excepting two quasar-lensing galaxies whose low values of R_V are
controversial, this is the only known object with a published value of R_V less
than 2.0. SNe 1999cl and 2000cf have near-infrared absolute magnitudes at
maximum in good agreement with other Type Ia SNe of mid-range decline rates.Comment: 28 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in the Astronomical
Journal, 5 November 200
Lockin to Weak Ferromagnetism in TbNi2B2C and ErNi2B2C
This article describes a model in which ferromagnetism necessarily
accompanies a spin-density-wave lockin transition in the borocarbide structure
provided the commensurate phase wave vector satisfies Q = (m/n)a* with m even
and n odd. The results account for the magnetic properties of TbNi2B2C, and are
also possibly relevant also for those of ErNi2B2C.Comment: 4 page
Giant anharmonicity and non-linear electron-phonon coupling in MgB; A combined first-principles calculations and neutron scattering study
We report first-principles calculations of the electronic band structure and
lattice dynamics for the new superconductor MgB. The excellent agreement
between theory and our inelastic neutron scattering measurements of the phonon
density of states gives confidence that the calculations provide a sound
description of the physical properties of the system. The numerical results
reveal that the in-plane boron phonons (with E symmetry) near the
zone-center are very anharmonic, and are strongly coupled to the partially
occupied planar B bands near the Fermi level. This giant anharmonicity
and non-linear electron-phonon coupling is key to explaining the observed high
T and boron isotope effect in MgBComment: In this revised version (to appear in PRL) we also discuss the boron
isotope effect. Please visit http://www.ncnr.nist.gov/staff/taner/mgb2 for
detail
1969: Abilene Christian College Bible Lectures - Full Text
GODâS ETERNAL PURPOSE
Being the Abilene Christian College Annual Bible Lectures 1969
Published by
ABILENE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE BOOK STORE
ACC Station Abilene, Texas 7960
Collaborative research in contexts of inequality: the role of social reflexivity
This article reports on the role and value of social reflexivity in collaborative research in contexts of extreme inequality. Social reflexivity mediates the enablements and constraints generated by the internal and external contextual conditions impinging on the research collaboration. It fosters the ability of participants in a collaborative project to align their interests and collectively extend their agency towards a common purpose. It influences the productivity and quality of learning outcomes of the research collaboration. The article is written by fourteen members of a larger research team, which comprised 18 individuals working within the academic development environment in eight South African universities. The overarching research project investigated the participation of academics in professional development activities, and how contextual, i.e. structural and cultural, and agential conditions, influence this participation. For this sub-study on the experience of the collaboration by fourteen of the researchers, we wrote reflective pieces on our own experience of participating in the project towards the end of the third year of its duration. We discuss the structural and cultural conditions external to and internal to the project, and how the social reflexivity of the participants mediated these conditions. We conclude with the observation that policy injunctions and support from funding agencies for collaborative research, as well as support from participants' home institutions are necessary for the flourishing of collaborative research, but that the commitment by individual participants to participate, learn and share, is also necessary.DHE
Review on Superconducting Materials
Short review of the topical comprehension of the superconductor materials
classes Cuprate High-Temperature Superconductors, other oxide superconductors,
Iron-based Superconductors, Heavy-Fermion Superconductors, Nitride
Superconductors, Organic and other Carbon-based Superconductors and Boride and
Borocarbide Superconductors, featuring their present theoretical understanding
and their aspects with respect to technical applications.Comment: A previous version of this article has been published in \" Applied
Superconductivity: Handbook on Devices and Applications \", Wiley-VCH ISBN:
978-3-527-41209-9. The new extended and updated version will be published in
\" Encyclopedia of Applied Physics \", Wiley-VC
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